EPA Announces $30 Million Challenge for Alternatives to Crop Desiccants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public input on a national innovation challenge that could provide up to $30 million in prize funding to identify alternatives to chemical crop desiccants.

Desiccants are commonly used to promote uniform crop maturity and improve harvest efficiency in crops such as small grains, pulses, oilseeds, potatoes and cotton. EPA is requesting feedback on potential alternatives, including improved agronomic practices, mechanical drying methods, biological inputs and precision agriculture technologies.

Additional information will be available through Regulations.gov under docket number EPA-HQ-OPP-2026-3862.

NAAA is monitoring this development closely to help ensure that any proposed alternatives don’t negatively impact grower’s ability to use desiccants when they need them, and interfere with aerial applicators ability to make timely applications by air. NAAA is concerned this effort may be targeting paraquat in particular.